(Raleigh, N.C.) North Carolina State University will use a $4 million grant to study the most efficient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly ways of producing biofuels from trees and from forest harvesting residue. NC State is part of the Southeast Partnership for Integrated Biomass Supply Systems, a collaboration of several universities and industry partners who will work on all aspects of the “biofuels pipeline” between the forests where the trees – the biomass feedstock – are grown and the “biorefineries” where the biofuels are produced. (more…)

(Franklin, Tenn. and Denton, N.C.) Eco-Energy Holdings, Inc. (“Eco-Energy”) is pleased to announce that it is developing an ethanol unit train and storage facility in conjunction with its partner J.T. Russell & Sons, Inc. at its current ethanol distribution facility located in Denton, North Carolina. (more…)

(Washington, D.C.) The Biofuels Center of North Carolina was asked to speak at a hearing on E15 by the Energy & Environment Subcommittee of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.  E15 is a blend of 15% ethanol in gasoline.  With oil near $100 a barrel and the United States considering its energy future at a time of economic constraint, the committee heard a range of different perspectives on the growth of biofuels in the marketplace.  The hearing, entitled - Hitting the Ethanol Blend Wall: Examining the Science on E15 -  was called to hear feedback on draft legislative language on mid-level ethanol blends of up to 15% ethanol in gasoline.  This year, the EPA provided waivers allowing E15 for motor vehicles built after 2001 under certain conditions. (more…)

(Research Triangle Park, N.C.) NCTechNews, North Carolina’s technology news source, will be blogging live from the BIO International Convention in Washington, D.C. June 27-30 to cover major trends affecting the life sciences community. The BIO International Convention is the largest global event of its kind, attracting the biggest names in biotech and featuring keynotes and sessions from key policymakers, scientists, CEOs, and celebrities, and the world’s largest biotechnology exhibition - the BIO Exhibition. (more…)

(Ahoskie, N.C.) In response to increasing demand for wood pellets and processed biomass fuel, Enviva LP (“Enviva”) today announced plans to increase the capacity of its wood-pellet manufacturing facility currently under construction in Ahoskie, N.C. The planned expansion of Enviva Pellets Ahoskie, located in Hertford County, will increase the plant’s production capacity by 50,000 metric tons annually, to 350,000 metric tons total. In addition, the company now projects that the plant will provide more than 60 full-time jobs to area residents. (more…)

(Washington, D.C.) The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today announced the Business Roundtable series for the 13th Annual BIO CEO & Investor Conference – the world’s largest independent investor conference focused on publicly-traded biotechnology companies. This conference provides a forum for institutional investors, research analysts and senior industry executives to discuss investment trends, attend company presentations, conduct one-on-one meetings, and learn about investment opportunities within the biotechnology industry. (more…)

(Ahoskie, N.C.) Enviva LP (“Enviva”), a leading manufacturer of processed biomass fuel in the United States and Europe, today announced plans to build a wood-pellet manufacturing facility in Ahoskie, North Carolina. The project will bring 53 jobs to the area and make Enviva the dominant biomass supplier in the mid-Atlantic region. (more…)

(Pittsboro, N.C.) More than 50 attendees turned out for the unveiling of the Biofuels Center-supported mobile enzymatic pilot plant at the Piedmont Biofuels campus in Pittsboro July 16. The pilot plant is a collaborative project between Chatham County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC), Novozymes, and Piedmont Biofuels. (more…)

(Raleigh, N.C.) North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue presented the inaugural Biofuelist of the Year award to Hoke County-based ethanol facility Clean Burn Fuels today (24 May 2010) at the North Carolina Farm Bureau in Raleigh. Initiated by the Biofuels Center of North Carolina, the Biofuelist of the Year award recognizes pioneers of this new industry and key advancements toward the state’s goal of producing 600 million gallons of biofuels every year by 2017.  Biofuels Center president and CEO Steven Burke said, “Clean Burn Fuels has brought to North Carolina a facility significant in vision, capital investment, new jobs, and impact on a rural county.”  He continued, “It further affirms North Carolina’s smart policy commitment to gain large capacity for alternatives to imported petroleum-based liquid fuels.” (more…)

(Raleigh, N.C.) Governor Beverly Perdue will address North Carolina’s biofuels community and help present the inaugural Biofuelist of the Year award at the Farm Bureau in Raleigh at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, 24 May 2010. The winner of the award will be announced at the event. (more…)

(Oxford, N.C.) Environmental policy veteran Steve Wall joined the Biofuels Center staff as its Director of Policy & Environmental Issues, bringing with him over a decade of experience working on environmental policy issues at the state and federal levels.  Most recently, Wall served as a Policy Analyst in the Secretary’s Office of the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) where he was involved in developing and implementing policy initiatives in a variety of areas, including renewable energy.  In this capacity, Wall was a member of the state’s Energy Policy Council and acted as the primary staff person for the Environmental Management Commission’s Renewable Energy Committee. (more…)

(Oxford, N.C.) HCL CleanTech, a U.S.-Israeli biofuels technology development company, has chosen North Carolina as the site for its administrative headquarters and first pilot plant. The Biofuels Center of North Carolina has assisted the company and will provide office space in Oxford in its Biofuels Accelerator on North Carolina’s Biofuels Campus.  The pilot plant will be located at Southern Research Institute’s Advanced Energy and Transportation Technologies Center in Durham.  The strengths and partnership of two interactive and leading North Carolina biofuels entities was compelling to the company, and a factor in its decision. (more…)